CONTENTS 44 JJS Duck is flying high as demand for its product flourishes domestically and across the globe. Cover: 2025 will see declines in total cattle slaughter, which will put even more pressure on beef processors' margins. Source: Superingo-stock.adobe.com 08 COMMENTARY Seventy years strong 10 BUSINESS NOTES 14 WASHINGTON Scrapping food waste 52 BEEF INDUSTRY UPDATE US cattle herd rebuild 60 SMALL BUSINESS Zimmerman Meats 64 INGREDIENT ISSUES Shelf life extension 70 COMPANY PROFILE Arrow Farm Meats 76 PACKAGING SOLUTIONS Sustainable and smart tech 84 LABOR Averting FMLA troubles 86 INDUS TRY C AL ENDAR 88 GIVING BACK 90 NAMES IN THE NEWS 92 PRODUCT SHOWCASE 97 ADVERTISERS 98 THE INSIDER INDUSTRY OUTLOOK 16 TRANSITION MODE Bracing for policy changes 22 POLITICS Election implications 30 PERSPECTIVES New Year's business prospects 38 FOOD SAFETY Regulators' focus in 2025 44 NICHE PROCESSING JJS Duck is what's quackin' 4 MEAT+POULTRY | 01.25 | www.meatpoultry.com Bob Sims/Sosland Publishing Companyhttp://www.meatpoultry.com